Heart of Thorns: Terror in the Sky (AFTER: A POST-APOCALYPTIC SURVIVOR SERIES) by Chris Hewitt

Author:Chris Hewitt [Hewitt, Chris]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Eerie River Publishing
Published: 2021-07-08T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter Six

Faye stared up at a familiar face, fogged brain trying to recall where she knew the mustached man from and, more importantly, how she’d ended up on the floor. A high-pitched ringing cut through her dull senses as the strange figure waved his fingers at her. She tried to stand, head swimming with the effort. Roo screamed at her from behind wire mesh, the girl’s words lost amongst a cacophony of voices.

“Five!”

She remembered arriving at the Rox, the bite of the first shot, and spending the afternoon selling caches of onyx to various shady characters, each demanding a toast. Then the wolf pack returned from checking in and…

“Get the fuck up!”

There was no drowning out that voice. Faye mouthed two words back at the girl.

“No, not me!” yelled Roo, pointing. “Fuck him!”

Memories of a drunken evening in the KasBar percolated through her mind. Things had already been rowdy before the miners turned up. A push, a shove, something about mothers, and that had been it. She’d thrown the first punch, and the bar had descended into chaos. Only Kas unloading his shotgun into the ceiling had stopped the affray and, never one to miss out on an opportunity, he’d suggested an alternative resolution.

“Six!”

Now she remembered and, rolling over, stared up at a beast of a man, a mountain of muscle and tattoos. Mighty Mike McEvans. It said it across his chest, right under the shard of glinting onyx that hung around his neck. The legendary trophy was a fragment of the only city-sized urchin humanity had ever defeated. Shame it was after it leveled San Francisco. Nevertheless, it served as a potent symbol for the Rox’s cage-fighting champion.

Not that Faye needed to read his name or see his trophy. Everyone knew Mike the Miner, the very public face of the mining guild’s strength. He’d gone easy on her until she kicked him in the nuts. That’s how she found herself on the far side of the ring, wondering what day of the week it was and how many ribs she’d cracked.

“Seven!”

Mike stared down at her, pity in his eyes. The same pity she’d seen in Carl’s and her mother’s eyes. The thought enraged her, reigniting her fury as she dragged herself to her feet.

“Eight!”

Mike glanced over at his corner. His guild mates shrugged. “You don’t need to do this, Flee. You ain’t got nothing to prove here. We don’t want any trouble from your mother.”

Faye pushed the referee aside, stumbling to the center of the ring. She scanned the baying crowd, searching for Carl’s face among the throng, but he was nowhere to be seen. With the referee and Mike scratching their heads, Faye kneeled, closing her eyes in well-practiced routine. The crowd grew quiet as she slowed her breathing. All except one.

“Oh fuck,” said Ed, tapping at his sleeve.

“Shh!” hissed Roo.

Mike looked to the referee, uncertain if Faye had conceded. The referee shrugged, as confused as everyone else, and the big miner reached down to tap her on the shoulder.

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